LAY ASIDE YOUR BURDEN

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi

Matt 11:30  KJV  ” For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

         The Greek word for “burden” is the word ‘phortion’  and it means “an invoice” (as part of freight), figuratively: “a task or service”: Jesus Christ is saying to the disciples that His service is light or easy. Whenever the lord gives an assignment, He foots the bills; all invoices are easily taken care of. There, are those who believe that serving God is a sentence to a life of penury and perpetual misery based on what they have observed in the life of some believers. But contrary to this view, the truth still remains that God’s work is easy. It is what it is: God’s work,  not man’s work. It becomes difficult when it becomes your work. It is like a surfer surfing the waves, the surfer simply rides the waves, it is not his responsibility to create waves. Most preachers teach church members to create waves and this is against biblical principles. Followers are made to undergo all manner of rigorous rituals in a bid to create waves in society and this has placed so much negative pressure on families as most spouses seldom have time to interact with each other due to these endless church activities that do nothing but massage the leader's ego  .True church growth is not in the number of persons in our auditoriums but the prevalence of righteousness in the society.

       Excessive religious devotions does more harm than good. It is one of the reasons behind so many failed marriages and businesses due to the fact that families are spending lesser time together and businesses left unattended to. . The scriptures condemns this way of reasoning . In Colossians 2:20-23 AMP Bible says “ If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world's crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations? — such as] Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them], Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines. [Isa 29:13.]  Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honour God but serve only to indulge the flesh.]” Excessive religious duties promotes immorality among Christians. This is one of the major reason behind the rise in scandals among church  leaders .There is time for everything and there should be a balance whatever we do.

     When we set personal ego aside, God will use us as He desires , He empowers those He uses. Phil 2:13 AMP says " [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” God does not need your help, just as a glass cup does not add to the taste of wine poured into it. We are like wine bottles and cups in God’s hands.

        We are to also bear each other’s burdens as a demonstration of obedience to the lord. Problems appear enormous when we try to solve them by ourselves. Someone has been assigned to be of help to us only if we would get off our high horses and ask for help .We fulfill Christ’s law by bearing each other’s burden. Gal 6:2 AMP says” Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and  troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]” A loaf of bread given to a starving family can go a long way to making life better . You are to complete what is missing in another person’s life. Spouses are expected to make up for their partner's deficiencies and not mock each other. Cast your burdens upon the Lord, he cares for you. 

 Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Ghost and grace for uncommon help to carry my burdens in  Jesus name. 
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